Thursday, August 30, 2012

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola (FSG/Frances Foster Books, 2012

When twelve-year old Earle moved with her family from a New Jersey farm to a home by the sea in Florida, she “lost her heart to the water.” Among other things, she has walked on the ocean floor, descended in a one-person spherical bubble deep in the Pacific Ocean, and spent two weeks in a deep-sea station.

National Geographic offers a bio of Earle on their website. Click over today.

Through the Tempests Dark and Wild: A Story of Mary Shelley, Creator of Frankenstein by Sharon Darrow, illustrated by Angela Barrett (Candlewick, 2003)

Focused on the teen years "where some believe that Mary's famous novel took root" this fictionalized picture book biography is a moving account of Shelley, who published her renowned Gothic at the age of nineteen.

A Wikipedia biography of Mary Shelley with additional links is available.

Read an interview with author Sharon Darrow (includes questions related to Through the Tempests) at Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Written by McCain’s eldest daughter, this is a loving tribute to the life of her father that portrays his perseverance and strength as a child, naval officer, prisoner of war, US Senator and Republican candidate for the president.

McCain currently represents Arizona as a member of the US Senate. Visit his website to learn more about him and the issues and legislation he is interested in.

Scott’s foot was on the pedal of his family’s car well before he was old enough to get a license. At 14 he bought his first car. He began racing in 1947 and in 1963 was the first and only African-American to win a NASCAR race.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Duke Kahanamoku is known by many names: The Ambassador of Aloha, father of surfing, and Olympic swimmer. In this gloriously illustrated picture book biography, Kahanamoku's challenges as an untrained swimmer who not only participated in the 1912 Olympics, but won a Gold Medal are recorded. Additionally, how Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia is chronicled.

Visit the Surfing Museum bio link for more information about Kahanamoku.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Pioneering aviator, Elinor Smith, took her first airplane ride at the age of six. By ten she was taking lessons and at fifteen flew her first solo. A daredevil and a record-breaker, Elinor Smith soared.

Dreams can come true. New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada's perseverance and hard work are captured in this story based on his childhood in Puerto Rico. Way cool--this book is also available in Spanish.

Part autobiography, part history, Littlechild matches his words with his bold, colorful art in this book about his life and the lives of other Native American peoples. Littlechild is a member of the Plains Cree Nation.

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Sixteen profiles of world peacemakers include a double-page spread of American diplomat Bunche. Stunning collages accompany each biography. Bunche was the first person of color to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Monday, August 06, 2012

Sickly and lonely as a child, Warhol found comfort in drawing and friendship in comic books. Marked as different, as a person and in his art, Warhol exploded onto the art scene as an adult and captured the attention and adoration of the world. His iconic paintings include Campbell Soup cans and famous movie stars.

The Andy Warhol Museum in Warhol's hometown of Pittsburgh has a stellar collection of his work. Of note: Warhol's "fifteen minutes of fame" quote lives on.

In just a few pages of this collective biography, Krull crams tons of data, descriptions and anecdotes about Canadian professional ice hockey player Maurice "Rocket" Richard's life. Lively illustrations add humor and zip.

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Abbie Against the Storm: The True Story of a Young Heroine and a Lighthouse by Marcia K. Vaughan, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth (Beyond Words Publishing, 1999)

Abbie saved the day. And the day after that. And the day after that. This book is a dramatic fictionalized account of the four weeks that seventeen year old Abbie Burgess spent caring for a Maine lighthouse and her family. “Not once in all that time did the lights fail. Not one ship floundered. Not one life was lost.” Amazing.